The Prelude

8:00 “In Dulci Jubilo” arr. Max Drischner

9:30/11:00 “Sinfonia” from Messiah George Frideric Handel

The Call to Worship The Rev. Ron Williams 8:00

The Rev. Mark Davis 9:30/11:00

Minister: I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us,

People: And the great goodness to the house of Israel that He has granted them according to His compassion, according to the abundance of His steadfast love.

Minister: For He said, “Surely they are My people, children who will not deal falsely.” And He became their Savior.

People: InalltheirafflictionHewasafflicted,andtheangelofHis presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed

them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63.7-9

Carol No. 218 “Angels, from the Realms of Glory” REGENT SQUARE

Prayer of Adoration

OrderfortheWorshipofGod

Park Cities Presbyterian ChurchDecember 20, 2015

8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 am

Fourth Sunday of Advent

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To all who are spiritually weary and seek rest; to all who mourn and long for comfort; to all who struggle and desire victory; to all who sin and need a Savior; to all who are strangers and want fellowship; to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness; and to all who will come, this church opens wide her doors and offers welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Profession of Faith The Rev. Chad Scruggs 8:00 The Rev. Bill Lamberth 9:30 The Rev. Paul Goebel 11:00

Minister: What does it mean that He “was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary”?People: ThattheeternalSonofGod, whoisandremains trueandeternalGod, took to Himself, throughtheworkingoftheHolySpirit, fromthefleshandbloodofthevirginMary,atrulyhuman nature so that He might also become David’s true descendant, likeHisbrothersandsistersineverywayexceptforsin. Heidelberg Catechism, question 35

Carol No. 225 “Once in Royal David’s City” IRBY Stanzas: 1, 2, 4, 5

The Sacrament of Baptism 9:30/11:00

ParentalVows

1. Do you acknowledge your children’s need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?2. Do you claim God’s covenant promises on their behalf, and do you look in

faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation, as you do for your own?3. Do you now unreservedly dedicate your children to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set

before them a godly example, that you will pray with and for them, that you will teach them the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

CongregationalVow

Do you as a congregation undertake the responsibility of assisting these parents in the Christian nurture of their children?

Prayer for the Families Mr. Kirk Pogoloff 9:30 9:30/11:00 Mr. Davis 11:00

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9:30

Elizabeth Fairfax BeasleyStiehl Jonathan LeonardThomas Warren BellZoey Jane Pogoloff

11:00

William Lee HenryOlivia Grace InmanHunter McKenzie Seals

Carol “Away in a Manger” CRADLE SONG 9:30/11:00

Public Confession of Sin

Minister: Arise, shine: for your light has come.People: OGod,weliveasifthelight hadneverdefeatedthedarknessintheworldorinus.Minister: And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.People: WeconfessthatweignoreChrist, the One You sent to be among us, to be in us.Minister: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. People: We’vekeptthebirthofYourSonconfinedtotheChristmas season and do not yearn for His birth each moment in our waitinghearts.Minister: And nations shall come to Your light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising.People: Lord, You came to us in the fullness of time. Forgive us for not opening our eyes to Your coming. MayweprepareforYourcoming. Lettheearthringwithsong.Letthelightbreakforth. Let us all rejoice in the miracle of the Incarnation. Let Christ come into the fullness of our time. Amen. —based on Isaiah 60.1-3

Private Confession

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WordsofAssuranceandPardonoftheGospel

In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.” Jeremiah 33.15-16

PrayerofIntercession/OffertoryPrayer Mr. Scruggs 8:00 Mr. Lamberth 9:30 Mr. Goebel 11:00

MusicalOffering

8:00 “Thou Who Wast Rich beyond All Splendor” French Carol QUELLE EST CETTE ODEUR AGRÉABLE Bryan Varenkamp, piano arr. B. Varenkamp 9:30/11:00 “And the Glory of the Lord” from Messiah G.F Handel Chancel Choir • J. Marty Cope, conductor

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 40.5

TheGreetingofPeace

Minister: For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The peace of the Lord be with you always. 2 Corinthians 4.6People: Andalsowithyou.

The Service of Friendship

The Scripture Reading Luke 2.8-14

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”

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The Sermon “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” Mr. Williams 8:00 Mr. Davis 9:30/11:00

TheGreatThanksgiving8:00 only

Minister: The Lord be with you. People: Andwithyourspirit.Minister: Lift up your hearts!People: We lift them up to the Lord!Minister: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.Minister: It is right and good and a joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks unto You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty,

Everlasting God. People: Therefore,withangelsandarchangels,andwithallthe

companyofheaven,welaudandmagnifyYourgloriousName;evermore praising You, and singing:

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Blessing 8:00

The Words of Institution 8:00

The Communion 8:00

Please come forward down the center aisle. Partake of the elements upon receiving them from the elders. Return to your seat with your empty cup via the side aisle.

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Worshipers at 9:30 and 11:00, pleasecontinue at the closing hymn on page six.

Closing Carol No. 203 “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” MENDELSSOHN

Benediction

Minister: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. Isaiah 60.1

People: ThanksbetoGod!Amen.

Postlude

8:00 “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” Traditional German Mr. Varenkamp, piano arr. S DeFord 9:30/11:00 “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” arr. David Lasky Mr. Cope, organ

The congregation stands.

The flowers in our worship service this morning are given to the glory of God and incelebration of the baptism of Eliza Beasley and birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

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ParkCitiesPresbyterianChurchexiststoextendthetransformingpresence oftheKingdomofourLordJesusChristinDallasandtotheworld.

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Music by permission: CCLI #364068

Musician assisting in worship this morning:

Steve Pettey, oboeAdrian DeCosta, violin

Kerri Parr, violinSterling Tyler, viola

David Fray, celloPaul Unger, bass

Lexi Jones, harpsichord Bryan Varenkamp, pianoBrian Piper, conductor

Personal Prayer and Counsel

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor . . . rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” Romans 12.10, 12, 13 Wewantsomuchtocomealongsideyouinbrotherlyloveandhospitalitybyyourallowingustobeinprayerforyoursalvationoranyneedyoumay have. Please join us in the Parlor (north of Fellowship Hall) followingtheworshipservicewhereourEldersandprayerleadersareavailableandeagertomeetwithyouandpraywithyouincompleteconfidence.

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Order of Worship for the Home – The Week of December 20, 2015

Praise

Call to Worship (everyone together)

I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, accord-ing to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that He has granted them according to His compassion, according to the abundance of His steadfast love.

“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” (read or sing these words together)

Please see the hymn text on page eight.

HearingandLearningGod’sWord

Scripture Reading: Luke 2.8-14 (one person read the Scripture aloud)

Questions for Discussion (may be answered in one worship time or spread over several times)

1. What does “Hark” mean?2. What is an herald?3. What was the message from these messengers?4. What all can we learn about Jesus from “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”?5. What did the shepherds do after they received the message about Jesus?6. How should we respond to the news of the Angels?

Questions for older children

1. What does it mean to have an absurd Christmas?2. Why is it so hard to listen to the true meaning of Christmas?3. Which is your favorite line about Jesus in “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”? Why?

ScriptureMemoryforDecember: (memorize these verses of Scripture this month)

Isaiah 9.6For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Prayer

The Lord's Prayer (say together)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

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SermonNotes

Luke 2.8-14

“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King:Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;With the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain:Hark! the herald angels sing,“Glory to the new-born King.”

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord!Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity,Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. [Refrain]

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die,Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. [Refrain]

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“Hark,howallthewelkinrings”Charles Wesley manuscript, 1745-46

Richmond College Manuscript Hymn Book

Image from the Wesley collection:The University of Manchester, England, John Rylands Library

and the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP)